Saturday, December 31, 2016

Love this shade of green and design on paper, wish it was a piece of fabric.
A gift bag and paper wrapped around an unusual candle, called a Creative Energy Candle
Scent Rosemary and Lavender, two of my favorite scents.

Instructions say that after you burn the candle to take the warm wax and place a small amount\into
the palm of your hand and gently massage into hands or feet.

Have not burned this candle as of yet and
will wait until some long rainy day, sit and read, burn the candle and try it out.

Thank you Beth
you always find such unusual items for your mama :)

Last night at dusk

Continuing to heal from bad fall, therapy for a few weeks, nurse last week told me something I know
"your mind and body are in a different place" early morning for the second time
on mat, difficult and only 15 minutes but will continue. Moving slower is what I should do
and will just continue on doing all I can.

Chili made the other day and chef granddaughter told me she always adds a can of corn and so
I did.

Monday, December 26, 2016

My youngest daughter takes images while visiting this cottage
and I take the same images
but next to mine
she is a professional photographer.
She shares what I once thought of, this cottage would make a wonderful Bed and Breakfast
Not now,,,,,,it is my special retreat for family and friends...

youngest
granddaughter on the left
with a friend
are quite the young entaphaners
they are making body scrub and doing well
with their sales :)

Wonderful family time at Christmas (many missed) but now mama &; grandma is continuing to heal
and ever thankful no broken bones and for my wonderful children, grandchildren and friends..
If there was no pain and balance problem life would be perfect.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Yesterday, so cold, much bagged trash in garage and needed mail from box way down the drive.
Took off and sometimes a kind person will help me unload bags my car, man in vehicle behind me stepped forward and said I"ll take care of that for you :)
I gave him a small box of King Leo peppermint sticks and he smiled. New practice of keeping
small items and sometimes a plastic bag of several fresh baked cookies to hand out to strangers
who help me.

Not accustomed to this
as this independent one
never needed help.
So thankful for Angels that appear along the way.

Yesterday such a small check received, like 3 cents and letter from Lowe's where I recently
purchased a few items for yard and bird seed. Letter stated they appreciated my business
and I made an over payment of 3 cents which they were returning to me :)

A number of chores inside and late to do stretches and seems no time to read lately.
Time goes by too quickly and day has ended..

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Later this year
because of all the rain
but late this afternoon
the crew of 4 arrived with heavy blowers
to clean leaves from around this cottage and also on roof cleaning gutters.

A new practice of 3 years, before that I was on the mower daily and used my small blower.
Things change, but with much checking it is less expensive for me to live here then in a condo.
Maintenance fee's of $400 a month and up year round. Until 3 years ago Nashville was an option but
not any more as prices have probably doubled for living arrangements and homes of any kind.

My small home in Nashville sold 7 years ago has doubled in price, but so happy I escaped
to the woods. But a surprise that I can no longer do the outside work I loved to do.
Silly me, I thought I could do it forever.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

I wonder
what would I do without a computer at this time of life?
It seems to be main form of communication with my children and grandchildren.

Son in far away land emails several times a week and almost feel like I have made a
a visit to Thailand. My first born Laurie was asked to model at a fund raiser in Tampa
and mom is so impressed with images she sent.

Jamie, my youngest with 2 youngest granddaughter's goes nonstop and I remember
those long ago days so well. Guess that is one of the reasons I enjoy this late in life
time in this cottage the woods.

Middle daughter, the nurse is busy with planning for my chef granddaughter who is
finishing a season in Nantucket, her arrival soon and so pleased she will be among family
sitting at the long table at our Christmas lunch.

I smile as I view my orchids now showing 20 buds and buds are just beginning to show.

Busy days continue
plan on baking fresh Apple cake and Sour cream, Chocolate chip and Cranberry cookies
this week. They look so festive, so good and I wonder why do I not make them more often.

Leaf removers with strong blowers have not arrived and seems this year the leaves do not bother
me that surround this home.

So life continues at a fast pace for my family and a delightful pace for this one traveling through her
80's. I will end with....Life is Good....

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Not as much done as times in the past
but still busy here by the woods.

After errands yesterday, home through heavy traffic and thoughts of what do I make for
late lunch.

So on a bed of mixed greens a slice of wonderful bread warmed and covered with cheese
topped with cooked bacon, egg and tomato from vine in pot. A side of artichoke dip with
black bean chips and the last slice of my pumpkin pie - made it complete and enjoyed more and probably healthier then any food I picked up on the way home. Lately it seems I like
my food better.
The tomato's picked green and have been
in utility room and finally ripened and so good.

A simple lunch buffet for family on Christmas at noon
and thoughts kept coming about something I purchased over 50 years ago that was in the
storage room. So much given away
but for some reason kept this container and it will contain some kind of soup for Christmas
lunch.
Thinking I would feel more comfortable using this one
neither of these used for almost 40 years.

About Me

This Journal is being written for my pleasure, my children and my grandchildren. Sharing some of my past, present and thoughts for future. It is the Journal of a sensitive soul who has entered her 8th decade. My life journey has taken me down a lot of roads with many twists and turns. It's not the journey that I would have visualized at the age of 25 when a third child was on the horizon. I love the warmth of the sun, sound of rain, a crackling fire, simplicity and elegance. Find pleasure in sitting on my porch with tea in a china cup and digging in the earth. I am more myself at this time of life than ever before. A considerable part of my past was in the business world, multi tasking and being super organized. Today I am trying to simplify and be more mindful. Also learning about this journey through aging and Sjogren's Syndrome.
It is not as easy as I thought, even though I have a lot of solitude at this time of life. My days fly by and I do not think I have enough time left on earth to do and experience all that is the desire of my heart.
One thing I am sure of is that I could not make it on this journey without my daily prayer and meditating time.